My Top 5 tracks on Alec Benjamin’s (Un)Commentary
Released on April 15, 2022, (Un)Commentary is Alec Benjamin’s second studio album. This proceeds his proper debut These Two Windows which was released during the pandemic. His new album generally is a takeaway for how rocky adulthood can be. Knowing Alec, he really has a knack for narrating stories one could totally relate to. And that is his backbone of being a great artist – an underrated one at that.
Listening to his new discography is like having someone older ready to give you some advice on how it is hard entering adulthood. Truly enough, the songs themselves do not disappoint. Each song in the album discusses its own respective struggles upon growing up. For this rocky adventure of adulthood, this album is a perfect navigation tool in venturing its terrain.
(Un)Commentary is an album that consists of heart-wrenching tracks perfectly narrating one’s struggles upon venturing into adulthood. As I grew older, I empathize with his new masterpieces. And here are my personal top five songs:
Dopamine Addict (1st Track)
Growing up, we battle with certain addictions we had as a child. And even sometimes, up until adulthood, we still have it. And whatever we do, it seems that we just “can’t break the habit.” In this track, Alec did not really mention what causes his dopamine addiction. But one thing is for sure, the chemistry he had with his certain dopamine addiction “got a hold of” him.
The theme of this track is the wretched cycle of addiction. And being addicted to something, one always keeps on thinking to need that “crutch” and “rush” in life. This track further goes deeper as it progresses, narrating someone “aching from the withdrawal.” And no matter how one tries to escape this certain addiction, as implied at the end of the song, there is no release. True enough, this track is a perfect piece for defining the inescapability of this certain cycle of addiction.
Nuance (9th Track)
Some say this song is totally related to his song “I Built A Friend”, a track from These Two Windows. And true enough, this has the same vibes. In this song, the subtleties and innocence we lost as we grow up are personified as a forgotten friend.
Nuance is a “familiar tale of growing up, and closing off and losing touch.” As we grow old, our perspectives also change. And no matter how subtle the change could be, we acknowledge it. As implied in this song, we “just left nuance out.” We grow old, and we move on. And our nuance in life, sometimes, “it’s just not for” us. Indeed, this song embodies how one thing can once be a part of our lives. And as we move forward, this thing becomes just an afterthought.
Devil Doesn’t Bargain (10th Track)
We all have this experience of having a friend who is willing to compromise everything only to still be with someone. And even though that someone is not the best for them, they would still persist. In this song, Alec narrates how he viewed his friend’s partner as a devil. And being the concerned friend he was, he “just wants what’s best” for his friend in the end.
The devil truly does not bargain, and worse, he does not settle. This song reflects the mindset of most people – them being the reason for their partners to change. But as problematic as it is, “it’s useless” and “it’s hubris to try.” This song generally tells us to stop trying to fix someone that would just hurt us in the very end. And to let go of our failed and painful relationships, for they do not do us any good. Let alone the fact that they are our lives’ devil. Because as obvious as it seems, the devil will never be our prince charming.
Older (12th Track)
It is the album’s most wrenching autobiographical track, and it is also the catchiest one. This narrates how one reckons upon growing up, and the emotional pressures and struggles that come with it. In this song, Alec viewed life as riding a roller coaster. The way this ride progresses is a metaphor for us growing older. And truly enough, we “can’t stop this rollercoaster” the same way we can not escape adulthood.
This track also perfectly encapsulates the pressures and expectations given to us, and how we deal with them. It is truly a painful scenario getting pressured for what the future offers while leaving all from your childhood. The lines “Guess my childhood is over” and “I’m not prepared for the future” truly hit home.
One Wrong Turn (13th Track)
This last track from the album basically sums up our regrets in life, after making one wrong turn. True enough, our fate can quickly turn with just one mistake. This song is about a married man who tried to cheat on his wife, with another woman. And the thrill of this narration is that mistakes can truly take us out. The core of this iconic track goes by the line “One wrong turn can burn things to the ground.”
This track discusses how making a decision off on a mistake can irrevocably change our lives. And more to that, this has a suspenseful plot you should not miss.
(Un)Commentary is not just an album, it is a compilation of stories hiding in its tracks. And these are not just stories, it is a collection of often dark narratives one could ever have in his/her life. It is indeed a perfect album that narrates one’s struggles, and to that, some could totally relate.
